Caudal anesthesia for minor subumbilical pediatric surgery: a comparison of levobupivacaine alone and levobupivacaine plus sufentanil.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the postoperative analgesic efficacy and duration of analgesia after caudal levobupivacaine 0.20% with and without the addition of sufentanil 0.5 microg kg(-1).


METHODS
Prospective, randomized study.


METHODS
University teaching hospital.


METHODS
40 ASA physical status I pediatric patients, aged one to 7 years, who were scheduled for elective minor subumbilical surgery.


METHODS
Patients were divided into two groups to receive either a single caudal injection of one mL kg(-1) levobupivacaine 0.20% (Group L) or levobupivacaine 0.20% plus sufentanil 0.5 microg kg(-1) (Group LS).


METHODS
Analgesia (Children and Infants Postoperative Pain Scale score), motor block (Motor Blockade Scoring), and side effects were assessed at predetermined time points during the first 24 postoperative hours.


RESULTS
The Children and Infants Postoperative Pain Scale scoring at the first hour was significantly lower in Group LS than in Group L. No significant differences were found between the two groups for pain scores at two, three, 4, 5, 6, 9, 12, and 24 hours. Degree of motor block was comparable between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The effect of adding sufentanil to caudal levobupivacaine on postoperative pain scores is brief after elective minor subumbilical surgery in children.
Erol
Atilla
A
Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, University of Selcuk of Meram Medicine Faculty, Konya, Turkey. atillaerol@yahoo.com
Tavlan
Aybars
A
Tuncer
Sema
S
Topal
Ahmet
A
Yurtcu
Müslim
M
Reisli
Ruhiye
R
Otelcioglu
Seref
S
D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000763:Anesthesia, Caudal / Q000379:methods*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D000077554:Levobupivacaine; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D017409:Sufentanil; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000077554:Levobupivacaine; D017409:Sufentanil; D002045:Bupivacaine